MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will likely reject the request of the opposition Otso Diretso coalition to organize a debate with the senatorial bets from administration-aligned Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).
Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said in a television interview that there was no more time and no more resources for the poll body to sponsor a debate among the opposition and administration senatorial bets.
“Ang problema natin, unlike in presidential elections kung saan kakaunti ‘yung candidates, sa senatorial elections nasa 62 ang candidates,” Abas said in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“Even the platform, the system ng debate, nahirapan din ang mga [TV] networks mag-organize,” he added. “Maganda ‘yung debate kasi nakikita ng tao mismo ‘yung mga kandidato, ano ‘yung kanilang plataporma, ano ang kanilang personalities.”
The poll body is set to tackle the Otso Diretso request for it to officiate or facilitate a debate with HNP on Wednesday, Abas said.
“Ang ibang kandidato, ang strategy nila is through debate. Ang ibang kandidato naman, ayaw ko, kasi lumalamang na ako. Ayaw ko makita ‘yung magiging weakness ko, baka may masabi pa ako at magkaroon ng impact sa aking ratings,” Abas said.
Otso Diresto senatorial bets have requested the Comelec to organize a debate between them and the HNP bets after the latter candidates failed to attend the debates organized by TV stations./PN
